Risk Factors For Seniors With Diabetes

By Silver Sitters

Staying healthy is not as easy as it used to be and seems like a challenge to nearly everyone. However, seniors must manage their diabetes well. The research conducted on this reveals that diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death and can lead to disability among seniors if left untreated. 

Even if seniors are doing well, it’s still important to manage and test their blood glucose levels, eat healthy, and exercise. Moreover, there are plenty of complications arising from diabetes such as heart problems, blindness, or nerve damage. 

Consequently, families must remain aware of diabetes-related issues and the signs and symptoms to watch out for. 

Complications Arising From Diabetes 

Kidney failure 

Diabetes is the most common reason for kidney failure among seniors. Kidney failure is a slow problem for seniors living with diabetes. The seniors’ families should closely monitor fatigue, urination frequency, sleep trouble, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, and swollen ankles or feet among seniors. Above all, make it a habit to get regular tests of seniors to monitor the kidney’s functioning. 

Eye trouble 

Eye issues are prevalent in seniors with diabetes. Symptoms to monitor include black smudges, blurred vision, sudden vision loss in one eye, seeing halos around lights, and dark spots with flashing lights. Regulating blood sugar can help prevent eye damage. An annual eye check-up by a retina specialist is recommended for those with diabetes.

Foot problems 

The seniors complaining of poor circulation and nerve damage might indicate foot problems among seniors that may become serious if left untreated. Make sure that seniors keep their feet clean and notify the doctor immediately if there has been any injury or cut. You can prevent seniors from catching infections by engaging in proper diabetes foot care practices such as wearing comfortable shoes, trimming nails, and scheduling regular check-ups. 

Heart disease

Two-thirds of seniors with diabetes succumb to heart disease. Diabetes alters cholesterol, increasing bad cholesterol and decreasing good cholesterol, leading to narrowed arteries due to fatty build-ups. This doubles the risk of heart attacks or strokes. If a diabetic has symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, discomfort in the arms, back, jaw, or neck, sweating, or nausea during exertion, seek immediate medical attention.

Nerve damage 

The research reveals that nearly half of the people with diabetes tend to have nerve damage. This condition in seniors causes loss of sensation and makes it easier for a person to injure themselves without noticing. Not every senior with diabetes tends to experience nerve damage but still, it’s essential to control blood glucose levels and report the symptoms to the doctor.